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Most of the decisions we make in lifeare not based on hard scientific evidence. Examples are new employment, marriage, buying a house, and making investments. A wise person gathers relevant facts, studies them and moves forward. Vitamin C (VC)has not been scientifically proven effective for Covid-19, but it is worth tryingfor the reasons below. Like many other medical questions, a rigorous study of VC and the virus would be very difficult and very expensive. Drug companies and many MD’s would not be interested.

Scientific studies show that it does have a positive effect on the cold and other viruses. VC is found in many foods and is safe in large quantities (spaced out and with plenty of water). It is worth trying, because even if it does not cure Covid-19, it can improve your general health. A win, win. Nothing to lose and so much to gain. VC is known to have a variety of important health functions, including healing. Most negative studies were done with low VC doses, under two grams per day. The medical profession says that good general health is valuable in the fight against coronavirus, and VC improves health. For best results, in addition to VC, one should take other supplements and have a very healthy diet with a variety of vegetables. It is best to have VC from 1000mg (1 gram) pills and not citrus fruits as it is only present is small amounts. The best plant source is kale.

Below are eight sources of information: scientific studies from PubMed, reliable web sites, such as the Mayo clinic, and Paulings book. I have pulled out the most relevant positive information (and ignored some negatives).

I also want to include my own experience with VC, over a period of 52 years. Briefly, before taking VC I got many colds; but after taking regular daily doses of several grams per day, I almost never got sick. I followed Paulings rules for colds. A general rule for most medicines is to spread large doses out over the day and always take with large amounts of water. I take a total of about 5 grams every day, spaced out. At the very first sign of a cold I take an additional 3-4 grams every hour or two, as needed. After an initial virus suppression, a complete “cure” may take three or four more days of larger VC doses. The dose could be adjusted for body weight. (This is not medical advice and physicians should be consulted if symptoms are serious or prolonged.)

Mayo Clinic:“Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a vitamin your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bones. Vitamin C is also vital to your body’s healing process.” Large doses of vitamin C are “unlikely to be harmful.”

Linus Pauling “Vitamin C and the Common Cold” 1970. Pauling won two Nobelprizes. The book contains many scientific references and specific cold fighting procedures. There are older studies cited that show some evidence for a relationship between VC and colds. Most early studies were done with low doses, which could account for some negative findings.

Nutrients. 2017 Apr; 9(4): 339 H.Hemila “Vitamin C and Infections”
There are positive and negative findings. I present the most encouraging results.VC “halved the number of colds in physically active people.” “Regularly administered vitamin C has shortened the duration of colds.” “Three controlled trials found that vitamin C prevented pneumonia.” Two studies using up to 6 to 8 grams of VC showed decreased cold duration. 148 animal studies “indicated that vitamin C may alleviate or prevent infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.” “Negative findings of some therapeutic common-cold studies might be explained by low VC doses.

Nutrients. 2019 Apr; 11(4): 708 Hemila and Chalker Title:
“Vitamin C Can Shorten the Length of Stay in the ICU”
Used 1 to 3 grams per day and VC “shortened the duration of mechanical ventilationby 18.2%

Nutrients. 2017 Nov; 9(11): 1211. Carr and Maggini, Title:“Vitamin C and Immune Function”
“Supplementation with VC appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections.” “Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans.” “It is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor” for many enzymes.

WebMD: Selected phrases.
VC “is one of the safest and most effective nutrients.” It may “help prevent more serious complications” of the common cold. “VC may include protection against immune systemdeficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling.”
“Vitamin C has received a great deal of attention, and with good reason. Higher blood levels of vitamin C may be the ideal nutrition marker for overall health,” says study researcher Mark Moyad, MD, MPH, of the University of Michigan. “The more we study Vitamin C, the better our understanding of how diverse it is in protecting our health. “There is good evidence for taking vitamin C for colds and flu” “It can reduce the risk of developing further complications such as pneumonia and lung infections.”